From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishlead on to something (also lead onto something) phrasal verb especially British Englishto cause something to develop or become possible at a later time Alan Turing’s work led onto the development of modern computers. → lead→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
lead on to • Some worksheets may begin with simple lower order questions, leading on to a higher order question.• Use of a picture will often lead on to further activity.• He had in those days of innocence seen the Edition as a finite task that would lead on to other things.• That type of education can also achieve access, which can lead on to other types of training and education.• Light industries and textiles led on to the establishment of some heavy industries. 